General Winfield Scott had appointed Captain Charles Stone as Inspector General of the District of Columbia Militia over dinner the previous evening.  A West Point graduate, Stone had resigned his commission in 1856 and begun a career as a surveyor, working largely in Mexico. With the rank of colonel, he successfully secured Washington DC over the following months and insured that the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln proceeded without incident.  His later career during the war was clouded by controversy, however.  (By John Osborne)  

General Winfield Scott appointed Captain Charles Stone as Inspector General of the District of Columbia Militia over dinner in Washington.  His appointment was announced the next day.  A West Point graduate, Stone had resigned his commission in 1856 and begun a career as a surveyor, working largely in Mexico. With the rank of colonel, he successfully secured Washington DC and insured that the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln proceed smoothly and in safety.  His later career during the war was clouded by controversy, however.  (By John Osborne)  

Senator Stephen Douglas spoke on the floor of the Senate and said that the recent election had brought the country face to face with the central issue of slavery.  Without dealing directly and swiftly with the future of slavery through compromise, the United States was headed towards disunion and civil war. Saying that "blood will be shed, and war will rage before gentlemen fully appreciate the crisis through which we are passing" he called on all parties and all politicians to act on a speedy compromise to preserve peace and union.  (By John Osborne) 

U.S. Postmaster-General Joseph Holt, one of the Buchanan Cabinet's strongest advocates for defense of federal property in the South, demanded that the U.S. Sub-Treasury in Charleston return the $35,000 it held for the U.S. Post Office that had been seized the week before or faced federal action.  He also again threatened retaliation on mail to and from South Carolina should that state interfere with United States postal deliveries. (By John Osborne) 

During a vigorous debate in the U.S. Senate, Albert G. Brown of Mississippi decried the "new" Republican Party denial of slaves as property. The South owned $400,000 of this property.  If the North persisted in the idea that the Government would not recognize property in slaves, and protect it, he said, "then, standing in the high presence of and before Almighty God, the Union cannot last ninety days."   (By John Osborne) 

On the day before the election for delegates to his state's secession convention, Senator Robert A. Toombs of Georgia telegraphed his constituents from Washington that, drawing from his dealings in the Congress with those seeking a compromise to the crisis, "all looking further to the North for security for your Constitutional rights in the Union, ought to be instantly abandoned."  The next day mostly pro-secession delegates were elected.  (By John Osborne) 

North Carolina militia led by Major John J. Hedrick acted on a rumor of federal reinforcement and seized Forts Johnston and Caswell at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in the early morning hours. Each installation had only one U.S. soldier on post, Ordnance Sergeant James Reilly at Johnston and Ordnance Sergeant Dardingkiller at Caswell. On hearing of this, Governor John W. Ellis ordered the forts be returned on January 11, 1861 and the two sergeants resumed control three days later.  (By John Osborne)